**( kàn bù qīng ） kǔ xiū ， dào yě qí lè wú qióng ， suì yuè rú suō ， zhuǎn yǎn yòu shì sì wǔ nián le 。 zhè rì shàng wǔ ， lín xuān
**(看不清）苦修，倒也其乐无穷，岁月如梭，转眼又是四五年了。这日上午，林轩
**(Unclear) Intense cultivation can indeed be endlessly enjoyable. Time flies, and another four or five years have passed. On this morning, Lin Xuan was seated in meditation within his cave dwelling when suddenly he moved, opened his eyes with a snap, and got up to walk outside.
zhèng zài dòng fǔ nèi pán xī dǎ zuò ， tū rán biǎo qíng yī dòng ， sà rán zhēng kāi yǎn ， zhèn yī ér qǐ ， xiàng wài miàn zǒu le chū qù 。
正在洞府内盘膝打坐，突然表情一动，飒然睁开眼，振衣而起，向外面走了出去。
Outside the cave, white mist swirled around, nurturing exotic flowers and plants that gave an otherworldly feeling like a fairyland.
dòng fǔ wài miàn ， bái wù yíng rào ， shēng zhǎng zhe bù hé qí huā yì cǎo ， gěi rén de gǎn jué jiù xiàng shì rén jiān xiān jìng yī yàng 。
洞府外面，白雾萦绕，生长着不和奇花异草，给人的感觉就像是人间仙境一样。
The place was heavily infused with阴气 (yīn qì), which was precisely what toxic plants and herbs liked. Moreover, any highly poisonous substances usually had very attractive appearances.
zhè ér yīn qì jí nóng ， qià hǎo shì dú huā dú cǎo xǐ huān de shēng zhǎng zhī suǒ 。
这儿阴气极浓，恰好是毒花毒草喜欢的生长之所。
Originally, Lin Xuan intended to cultivate another medicinal garden elsewhere, but he found the soil outside his cave dwelling particularly fertile, so he planted it there instead.
ér dàn fán jù dú zhī wù ， wài biǎo dōu shì fēi cháng yàn lì de 。
而但凡剧毒之物，外表都是非常艳丽的。
After all, the Corpse Qi Swamp was a rare place of seclusion where few outsiders would intrude, and with surrounding protective barriers in place, Lin Xuan did not worry about these rare poisons wilting for no reason.
yuán běn lín xuān xiǎng yào lìng wài kāi pì yī chù yào yuán ， nǎ zhī dào dòng fǔ wài de tǔ rǎng zuì wèi féi wò ， yú shì jiù zhǒng zài zhè lǐ le 。
原本林轩想要另外开辟一处药园，哪知道洞府外的土壤最为肥沃，于是就种在这里了。
With a wave of his sleeves, the white mist parted to reveal a passage. Then, a red light flashed as a bright fireball flew in from outside. Lin Xuan raised his left hand slightly, and it seemed to understand him, falling into his palm.
fǎn zhèng shī qì zhǎo zé ， běn jiù shì nán dé de qīng jìng zhī suǒ ， shǎo yǒu wài rén chuǎng rù ， jiā shàng zhōu wéi jìn zhì bǎo hù ， lín xuān dào
反正尸气沼泽，本就是难得的清静之所，少有外人闯入，加上周围禁制保护，林轩倒
This was a secret communication talisman, but not an ordinary one.
yě bù hài pà zhè xiē zhēn xī dú wù huì wú gù diāo líng 。
也不害怕这些珍稀毒物会无故凋零。
By "secret," one could see the difference; this was far more valuable than regular communication talismans. Ordinary cultivators couldn't afford them because such consumables were worth thousands of crystal stones and even rivaled top-grade spiritual artifacts.
xiù páo yī fú ， bái wù fān yǒng ， xiàng liǎng páng sàn kāi ， xiàn chū yī tiáo tōng dào lái 。
袖袍一拂，白雾翻涌，向两旁散开，现出一条通道来。
Usually, only large sects or old monsters with profound cultivation would use these in critical moments.
jiē zhe hóng guāng yī shǎn ， cóng wài miàn fēi jìn yī liàng lì de huǒ tuán ， lín xuān zuǒ shǒu wēi tái ， tā jiù fǎng rú tōng líng bān de luò rù zhǎng
接着红光一闪，从外面飞进一亮丽的火团，林轩左手微抬，它就仿如通灵般的落入掌
Compared to ordinary communication talismans, this one had two distinctive features: it could travel faster over great distances—thousands of miles—and was more covert. It was less likely to be discovered and destroyed, ensuring the safe transmission of messages.
xīn 。
心。
Lin Xuan had only seen such items mentioned in ancient texts; they were long lost in Youzhou.
cǐ nǎi chuán yīn fú ， bù guò què shì mì zhì de 。
此乃传音符，不过却是秘制的。
Looking at the bright firelight in his palm, Lin Xuan's face showed a hint of confusion. Although he had been on Seven Stars Island for quite some time, there was no close comrade to whom he could relate. Given how hidden his movements were, who would spend such effort sending him a secret communication talisman?
suǒ wèi mì zhì ， gù míng sī yì ， kě shì yuǎn fēi pǔ tōng de chuán yīn fú kě bǐ 。
所谓秘制，顾名思义，可是远非普通的传音符可比。
"Master, is it perhaps something wrong with the Ning Family?" A clear voice entered his ears as Moon approached.
yì bān de xiū shì gēn běn yòng bù qǐ ， yīn wèi zhè zhǒng jǐn néng shǐ yòng yī cì de xiāo hào pǐn ， què jià zhí zhí qiān jīng shí ， shèn zhì néng
一般的修士根本用不起，因为这种仅能使用一次的消耗品，却价值直千晶石，甚至能
The little girl had just finished her cultivation and sensed some disturbance outside, so she flew out without hesitation. Lin Xuan didn't hide anything from her; they often talked about capturing Ning Family cultivators during their chats. Girls are naturally more perceptive, and after a moment's thought, she came to this conclusion.
gòu pì měi yī jiàn shàng jiē de líng qì 。
够媲美一件上阶的灵器。
Lin Xuan nodded, his gaze reflecting the broadening of his horizons as Moon had become increasingly helpful.
tōng cháng zhǐ yǒu nà xiē dà de zōng mén shì lì ， huò zhě xiū wèi jīng shēn de lǎo guài wù ， zài mǒu xiē guān jiàn shí kè cái huì shǐ yòng yī èr
通常只有那些大的宗门势力，或者修为精深的老怪物，在某些关键时刻才会使用一二
With an approving glance, Lin Xuan delved into the firelight with his spirit sense. After a moment, he raised his head, but his expression did not reveal any joy or anger.
de 。
的。
"Master, what do you think?" Moon said anxiously.
yǔ pǔ tōng de chuán yīn fú xiāng bǐ ， tā yǒu liǎng gè tè diǎn ， yī shì sù dù kuài fēi de yuǎn ， kě yǐ kuà yuè shù wàn lǐ de jù lí ，
与普通的传音符相比，它有两个特点，一是速度快飞的远，可以跨越数万里的距离，
"You were right; there has indeed been a significant change in the Ning Family," Lin Xuan replied nonchalantly.
èr zé shì yǐn mì 。 bù róng yì bèi rén fā xiàn jī huǐ ， néng gòu què bǎo jiāng xiāo xī ān quán wěn tuǒ de chuán chū qù 。
二则是隐秘。不容易被人发现击毁，能够确保将消息安全稳妥的传出去。
"Oh?" Moon's eyes darted as she revealed a mix of curiosity and excitement. "What exactly happened? Master, please tell me if it is beneficial to us."
zhè zhǒng dōng xī ， lín xuān yě jǐn jǐn zài shàng gǔ diǎn jí zhōng jiàn guò ， zhì yú yōu zhōu ， zǎo jiù yǐ jīng shī chuán 。
这种东西，林轩也仅仅在上古典籍中见过，至于幽州，早就已经失传。
"Dead girl, you're always thinking about making others fight so you can profit from their conflicts," Lin Xuan joked. "Haha, as the ancients say, 'near vermilion turns red; near ink turns black.' These are all lessons I've learned from Master." Moon giggled and straightened her back.
cǐ kè wàng zhe zhǎng xīn zhōng liàng lì de huǒ guāng ， lín xuān liǎn shàng què lù chū le yī sī yí huò ， suī shuō zì jǐ lái dào qī xīng dǎo yún hǎi
此刻望着掌心中亮丽的火光，林轩脸上却露出了一丝疑惑，虽说自己来到七星岛云海
It was early morning, with the sun just rising, casting a warm light through the clouds that bathed the earth in its gentle glow. The surrounding grasses were lush, and the flowers of various colors bloomed beautifully. A young woman in white stood among them, looking like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world.
de shí rì yǐ bù suàn duǎn le ， dàn bìng méi yǒu shén me guān xì mì qiè de tóng dào ， jiā shàng háng zōng yòu yǐn bì fēi cháng ， shuí huì huā dà
的时日已不算短了，但并没有什么关系密切的同道，加上行踪又隐蔽非常，谁会花大
"Ma... Master, why are you staring at me?" Moon blushed and was both shy and excited when she noticed Lin Xuan's gaze. Her fair face flushed with two rosy cheeks, like jade under the sun, exquisitely beautiful.
lì jiāng mì zhì chuán yīn fú sòng lái shī qì zhǎo zé ？
力将秘制传音符送来尸气沼泽？
Then, very clearly, Lin Xuan swallowed hard.
“ shào yé ， mò bú shì níng jiā chū shén me shì le ？” qīng cuì de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， xiāng fēng yì rán 。 yuè ér yǐ lái dào le
“少爷，莫不是宁家出什么事了？”清脆的声音传入耳朵，香风亦然。月儿已来到了
"Master..." Moon's face turned even redder as Lin Xuan regained his composure. It was not a time for such thoughts; although she was beautiful, he could only see her and not touch her. She would have a new body after condensing her元婴 (yuán yīng).
shēn biān 。
身边。
Cough, cough... Thinking too far ahead, even with his deep-seated composure, Lin Xuan's face turned slightly red as he quickly suppressed his romantic thoughts.
xiǎo yā tou gāng gāng xiū liàn wán ， gǎn jué dào wài miàn de yì dòng yě jiù fēi le chū lái ， lín xuān duì tā shén me yě bù yǐn mán ， píng rì
小丫头刚刚修炼完，感觉到外面的异动也就飞了出来，林轩对她什么也不隐瞒，平日
"Indeed, the Ning Family's significant change is indeed an excellent opportunity for us," Lin Xuan said, changing the subject.
lǐ liáo tiān de shí hòu yě jiù tán guò shōu fú níng jiā xiū shì de shì le ， nǚ hái zi dào dǐ yào xīn xì yī xiē ， nǎo jīn yī zhuǎn ， jiù
里聊天的时候也就谈过收服宁家修士的事了，女孩子到底要心细一些，脑筋一转，就
"Oh?" Moon's eyes flashed with disappointment but she knew better than to push her luck. "Then what exactly happened? Tell me."
xiǎng dào le zhè shàng miàn 。
想到了这上面。
"It's simple; the Ning Family's senior elder has passed away," Lin Xuan smiled.
lín xuān diǎn le diǎn tóu ， suí zhuó yǎn jiè jiàn shí de kuān guǎng ， yuè ér yǐ jīng yuè fā néng gòu bāng shàng zì jǐ de máng le 。
林轩点了点头，随着眼界见识的宽广，月儿已经越发能够帮上自己的忙了。
The senior elder he referred to was not a Corpse Demon; that monster was the previous patriarch of the Ning Family, and this one was the current head of the family.
xiàng tā tóu qù yī mǒ zàn xǔ de mù guāng ， lín xuān jiāng shén shí chén rù le huǒ guāng ， piàn kè hòu ， tā tái qǐ tóu ， rán ér liǎn shàng de
向她投去一抹赞许的目光，林轩将神识沉入了火光，片刻后，他抬起头，然而脸上的
"How is that possible?" Moon asked in confusion. "The Ning Family Head should be at least an advanced凝聚丹 (níng dān) cultivator. Master said he was only around three hundred years old last time; how could his lifespan have ended?"
biǎo qíng què kàn bù chū xǐ nù 。
表情却看不出喜怒。
"Unless he died during a fight, but that's impossible," she thought. "It is rumored that the Ning Family is one of the largest ghost sects in this阴灵之原 (yīn líng zhī yuán). Could it be an old元婴 (yuán yīng) cultivator who acted?"
“ shào yé ， rú hé ？” yuè ér yǒu xiē xīn jí de kāi kǒu 。
“少爷，如何？”月儿有些心急的开口。
Moon's expression turned serious as she realized her overthinking. She had learned about the Ning Family from Lin Xuan, who once went out to gather information during his cultivation.
“ nǐ suǒ liào bù cuò ， què shí shì níng jiā fā shēng le dà biàn gù 。” lín xuān bù dòng shēng sè de shuō 。
“你所料不错，确实是宁家发生了大变故。”林轩不动声色的说。
Knowing oneself and one’s enemy leads to victory in a hundred battles; Lin Xuan was always meticulous.
“ ó ？” yuè ér yǎn zhū yī zhuǎn ， lù chū le yì chēn yì xǐ de xiào róng “ jiū jìng shì shén me ， shào yé nǐ kuài shuō shuō ， shì bù
“哦？”月儿眼珠一转，露出了亦嗔亦喜的笑容“究竟是什么，少爷你快说说，是不
"Enough guessing; things aren't as complicated as you think," Lin Xuan smiled playfully at her efforts.
shì duì wǒ men yǒu lì de 。”
是对我们有利的。”
"It's annoying; you're just trying to keep me on my toes," Moon pouted.
“ nǐ zhè sǐ yā tou ， yī tiān jiù xiǎng zhe ràng bié rén xiāng dòu ， zì jǐ yú lì de niàn tou 。” lín xuān xiào mà zhe kāi kǒu 。“ hē hē ， gǔ rén suǒ yán ， jìn zhū zhě chì ， jìn mò zhě hēi ， xiǎo bì zhè xiē ， hái bú shì quán xiàng shào yé suǒ xué 。” yuè ér
“你这死丫头，一天就想着让别人相斗，自己渔利的念头。”林轩笑骂着开口。“呵呵，古人所言，近朱者赤，近墨者黑，小婢这些，还不是全向少爷所学。”月儿
"That's for your own good." Lin Xuan stopped joking and began to recount the events. "In fact, it was because he walked into a cultivation mishap that led to his death."
xī xī yī xiào ， tái tóu tǐng xiōng dào 。
嘻嘻一笑，抬头挺胸道。
"Uh..." Moon was stunned as she processed this information, realizing her overthinking. She had forgotten that for cultivators, cultivating improperly could be more dangerous than dying in battle.
cǐ shí zhèng zhí qīng chén ， zhāo yáng chū shēng ， míng mèi de yáng guāng tū pò yún céng ， jiāng diǎn diǎn de wēn nuǎn sǎ xiàng dà dì ， zhōu wéi fāng cǎo
此时正值清晨，朝阳初升，明媚的阳光突破云层，将点点的温暖洒向大地，周围芳草
Across sects and families, including independent cultivators, many people died from improper cultivation every year, just as many lost their cultivation entirely. It wasn't uncommon to see such cases.
rú yīn ， qí huā chà zǐ yān hóng ， shào nǚ yī xí bái yī ， zhàn zài bǎi huā cóng lǐ ， gèng xiǎn de měi rén rú yù ， fǎng ruò dì luò fán
如茵，奇花姹紫嫣红，少女一袭白衣，站在百花丛里，更显得美人如玉，仿若蒂落凡
Recalling the past, Moon thought of her own experience when she had walked into a cultivation mishap. If not for Lin Xuan's efforts and冒险 (mìng xiǎn) journey to the阴魂峡谷 (yīn hún gǔ xiá), killing the thousand-year-old ghost king and using his inner core to heal her, she would no longer be here.
chén de jiǔ tiān xuán nǚ 。
尘的九天玄女。
With this in mind, Moon looked at Lin Xuan with a tender gaze.
**(Unclear) Intense cultivation can indeed be endlessly enjoyable. Time flies, and another four or five years have passed. On this morning, Lin Xuan was seated in meditation within his cave dwelling when suddenly he moved, opened his eyes with a snap, and got up to walk outside.
Outside the cave, white mist swirled around, nurturing exotic flowers and plants that gave an otherworldly feeling like a fairyland.
The place was heavily infused with阴气 (yīn qì), which was precisely what toxic plants and herbs liked. Moreover, any highly poisonous substances usually had very attractive appearances.
Originally, Lin Xuan intended to cultivate another medicinal garden elsewhere, but he found the soil outside his cave dwelling particularly fertile, so he planted it there instead.
After all, the Corpse Qi Swamp was a rare place of seclusion where few outsiders would intrude, and with surrounding protective barriers in place, Lin Xuan did not worry about these rare poisons wilting for no reason.
With a wave of his sleeves, the white mist parted to reveal a passage. Then, a red light flashed as a bright fireball flew in from outside. Lin Xuan raised his left hand slightly, and it seemed to understand him, falling into his palm.
This was a secret communication talisman, but not an ordinary one.
By "secret," one could see the difference; this was far more valuable than regular communication talismans. Ordinary cultivators couldn't afford them because such consumables were worth thousands of crystal stones and even rivaled top-grade spiritual artifacts.
Usually, only large sects or old monsters with profound cultivation would use these in critical moments.
Compared to ordinary communication talismans, this one had two distinctive features: it could travel faster over great distances—thousands of miles—and was more covert. It was less likely to be discovered and destroyed, ensuring the safe transmission of messages.
Lin Xuan had only seen such items mentioned in ancient texts; they were long lost in Youzhou.
Looking at the bright firelight in his palm, Lin Xuan's face showed a hint of confusion. Although he had been on Seven Stars Island for quite some time, there was no close comrade to whom he could relate. Given how hidden his movements were, who would spend such effort sending him a secret communication talisman?
"Master, is it perhaps something wrong with the Ning Family?" A clear voice entered his ears as Moon approached.
The little girl had just finished her cultivation and sensed some disturbance outside, so she flew out without hesitation. Lin Xuan didn't hide anything from her; they often talked about capturing Ning Family cultivators during their chats. Girls are naturally more perceptive, and after a moment's thought, she came to this conclusion.
Lin Xuan nodded, his gaze reflecting the broadening of his horizons as Moon had become increasingly helpful.
With an approving glance, Lin Xuan delved into the firelight with his spirit sense. After a moment, he raised his head, but his expression did not reveal any joy or anger.
"Master, what do you think?" Moon said anxiously.
"You were right; there has indeed been a significant change in the Ning Family," Lin Xuan replied nonchalantly.
"Oh?" Moon's eyes darted as she revealed a mix of curiosity and excitement. "What exactly happened? Master, please tell me if it is beneficial to us."
"Dead girl, you're always thinking about making others fight so you can profit from their conflicts," Lin Xuan joked. "Haha, as the ancients say, 'near vermilion turns red; near ink turns black.' These are all lessons I've learned from Master." Moon giggled and straightened her back.
It was early morning, with the sun just rising, casting a warm light through the clouds that bathed the earth in its gentle glow. The surrounding grasses were lush, and the flowers of various colors bloomed beautifully. A young woman in white stood among them, looking like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world.
"Ma... Master, why are you staring at me?" Moon blushed and was both shy and excited when she noticed Lin Xuan's gaze. Her fair face flushed with two rosy cheeks, like jade under the sun, exquisitely beautiful.
Then, very clearly, Lin Xuan swallowed hard.
"Master..." Moon's face turned even redder as Lin Xuan regained his composure. It was not a time for such thoughts; although she was beautiful, he could only see her and not touch her. She would have a new body after condensing her元婴 (yuán yīng).
Cough, cough... Thinking too far ahead, even with his deep-seated composure, Lin Xuan's face turned slightly red as he quickly suppressed his romantic thoughts.
"Indeed, the Ning Family's significant change is indeed an excellent opportunity for us," Lin Xuan said, changing the subject.
"Oh?" Moon's eyes flashed with disappointment but she knew better than to push her luck. "Then what exactly happened? Tell me."
"It's simple; the Ning Family's senior elder has passed away," Lin Xuan smiled.
The senior elder he referred to was not a Corpse Demon; that monster was the previous patriarch of the Ning Family, and this one was the current head of the family.
"How is that possible?" Moon asked in confusion. "The Ning Family Head should be at least an advanced凝聚丹 (níng dān) cultivator. Master said he was only around three hundred years old last time; how could his lifespan have ended?"
"Unless he died during a fight, but that's impossible," she thought. "It is rumored that the Ning Family is one of the largest ghost sects in this阴灵之原 (yīn líng zhī yuán). Could it be an old元婴 (yuán yīng) cultivator who acted?"
Moon's expression turned serious as she realized her overthinking. She had learned about the Ning Family from Lin Xuan, who once went out to gather information during his cultivation.
Knowing oneself and one’s enemy leads to victory in a hundred battles; Lin Xuan was always meticulous.
"Enough guessing; things aren't as complicated as you think," Lin Xuan smiled playfully at her efforts.
"It's annoying; you're just trying to keep me on my toes," Moon pouted.
"That's for your own good." Lin Xuan stopped joking and began to recount the events. "In fact, it was because he walked into a cultivation mishap that led to his death."
"Uh..." Moon was stunned as she processed this information, realizing her overthinking. She had forgotten that for cultivators, cultivating improperly could be more dangerous than dying in battle.
Across sects and families, including independent cultivators, many people died from improper cultivation every year, just as many lost their cultivation entirely. It wasn't uncommon to see such cases.
Recalling the past, Moon thought of her own experience when she had walked into a cultivation mishap. If not for Lin Xuan's efforts and冒险 (mìng xiǎn) journey to the阴魂峡谷 (yīn hún gǔ xiá), killing the thousand-year-old ghost king and using his inner core to heal her, she would no longer be here.
With this in mind, Moon looked at Lin Xuan with a tender gaze.